HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH BUSES LEGALLY?
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I was stopped by bus captains a couple of times recently for photographing buses at bus interchanges. They said that bus photography is ILLEGAL due to recent global terrorism...
Has anyone experienced similar incidents before?
How can I get permission to photograph buses legally?
(btw, if my activities can cause a potential threat to terror, what about tourists and the public photographing at hotel lobbies, Orchard Rd, the city skyacrapers, Suntec, etc???? And how about the numerious book publications which include bus photos (eg Danny Chan's Singapore Bus Handbook???)
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erm... can i ask y u wanna take pics of buses?
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Originally posted by monkeybusiness:erm... can i ask y u wanna take pics of buses?
he is a bus fan. -
One point I wonder about, do Friends of SBST/SMRT have the right to take photos of buses? If they have then I guess the bus companies got to give their faith that they won't misuse the photos.
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Photograph them outside the bus interchanges, near where the buses enter/exit. Then the staffs cannot stop you as the place is outside their area of control.Originally posted by SBS3688Y:I was stopped by bus captains a couple of times recently for photographing buses at bus interchanges. They said that bus photography is ILLEGAL due to recent global terrorism...
Has anyone experienced similar incidents before?
How can I get permission to photograph buses legally?
(btw, if my activities can cause a potential threat to terror, what about tourists and the public photographing at hotel lobbies, Orchard Rd, the city skyacrapers, Suntec, etc???? And how about the numerious book publications which include bus photos (eg Danny Chan's Singapore Bus Handbook???) -
people fantasize about buses ?Originally posted by monkeybusiness:erm... can i ask y u wanna take pics of buses? 
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They are just bullshiting.I still remember one time in serangoon when i wanted to catch the Volvo B10BLE CNG the Green Shirt Guy(GSG) encouraged me to go catch the bus and take the photo of the bus.I use a SLR at int and no BC's even came to me about taking photographs.Originally posted by SBS3688Y:I was stopped by bus captains a couple of times recently for photographing buses at bus interchanges. They said that bus photography is ILLEGAL due to recent global terrorism...
Has anyone experienced similar incidents before?
How can I get permission to photograph buses legally?
(btw, if my activities can cause a potential threat to terror, what about tourists and the public photographing at hotel lobbies, Orchard Rd, the city skyacrapers, Suntec, etc???? And how about the numerious book publications which include bus photos (eg Danny Chan's Singapore Bus Handbook???) -
Then can I ask you to mind your own monkey business?Originally posted by monkeybusiness:erm... can i ask y u wanna take pics of buses? 
Taking photo of buses is a hobby to a number of us here,and maybe if you get out of your tree and stop eating bananas for a moment, you will discover that there are a significant number of people enjoying the same hobby the world over, notably in England, Hong Kong and Australia.
This issue is conjugated as there is no clear conscience from the green martians whether it is legally right or wrong, but to date there had been no instance where they are able to find a phrase in the law to say that it is illegal. The main purpose of bus photography is bus. The main purpose of terrorist linked bus photography is the area. So the area of focus and objective of the picture is vastly different. Which is why law enforcement officers seldom create trouble with us. Which other nut would want occupy more than 50% of the frame with a boring public bus and nothing else?
It works on a basis of trust between us as the bus photographers and the SBST staff. Firstly, the photos obtained are for our own personal collection and not used in any commercial area. Secondly, we try to be as discreet as possible while we go around enjoying clicking and the staff mind their own business. Thus, there would not be any major conflict.
However, I do know that some bus captains are somewhat terrorised by the sight of the cam as there are those public who sit around and do nothing type and snap the pix to send to HQ to launch a complain. On our part, we exclude photographic evidence whenever we complain ourselves, in fact if one phrases the complain in a tactful and clear manner, there is no need for a pix.
So this is why there are people who enjoy taking photographs of public buses and the difference between a terrorist and an enthusiast holding a cam aimed at buses. Personally, I am proud to be part of this community and celebrating my first anniversary in quality digital bus photos this week.
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Repeated post.
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i dun think it's illegal to photograph busses... next time u get approached ask him to get the police to show u the statute where such a law exists.
perhaps photography might be probihited in the bldg where u are taking photos (ie, the bus interchange, which i too, doubt) in that case, take the busses from the road, then they got nothing to say liow.
also with regard to the anti-terrorism crap he came up with, ask him how prevention of photography of busses is gonna help.... -
I asked a lawyer friend. She said that its not illegal to photograph a bus when its on a public road or it YOU are at the public place.
However, if you do to a out of bounds place in the bus interchange (like where the buses are parked), then technically you can be charged for tresspassing - but NOT for taking the photograph -
even if there's a potential terrorist targeting on public transport, I don't think its necessary for them to photograph buses and the interchanges in the first place in order to carry out an attack. they can always sketch out the building plans of the interchanges and bus interior, as it's unlike secret military installations thats only be accessible to a few. secondly, they can always use hi-tech hidden cams to photograph without being spotted right?
I dont think a potential terrorist is so stupid to photograph so openly like any other genuine bus fan like myself to attract such a strong attention from the public, transport staff and detectives????
in fact, SBST and SMRT ought to be proud enough to know that there are people admiring their buses!!! -
Are you hoe jyh of sgbuses@invisionfree?Originally posted by jOhO:i dun think it's illegal to photograph busses... next time u get approached ask him to get the police to show u the statute where such a law exists.
perhaps photography might be probihited in the bldg where u are taking photos (ie, the bus interchange, which i too, doubt) in that case, take the busses from the road, then they got nothing to say liow.
also with regard to the anti-terrorism crap he came up with, ask him how prevention of photography of busses is gonna help.... -
nope i dun think so. he goes by another nick.
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kiri, mind asking ur lawyer friend if this is under any statutes? which chapter and paragraph is it under? I'll like to take a look.Originally posted by kiri:I asked a lawyer friend. She said that its not illegal to photograph a bus when its on a public road or it YOU are at the public place.
However, if you do to a out of bounds place in the bus interchange (like where the buses are parked), then technically you can be charged for tresspassing - but NOT for taking the photograph
For statutes, can go http://statutes.agc.gov.sg and search around -
he is TIB1186Z here.Originally posted by iveco:Are you hoe jyh of sgbuses@invisionfree? -
Aiyo!!!~ I post so long a reply above and my nick+signature give me away liaoz wad., HJP! There are not a lot who are both full time bus + plane spotters + regular plane and bus photographers in the invisionfree forum.Originally posted by iveco:Are you hoe jyh of sgbuses@invisionfree?
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Striking the target unaware is a technique used by many terrorists in the past. They attract attention then suddenly blows the place up. However, I agree that the Singaporean authorities are slightly on the panaroid side, such as posting guards at the school gate to ward off terrorism. Any sane terrorists would use the peak periods when students and teachers to stream into the school and set off an attack unaware lah!Originally posted by SBS3688Y:even if there's a potential terrorist targeting on public transport, I don't think its necessary for them to photograph buses and the interchanges in the first place in order to carry out an attack. they can always sketch out the building plans of the interchanges and bus interior, as it's unlike secret military installations thats only be accessible to a few. secondly, they can always use hi-tech hidden cams to photograph without being spotted right?
I dont think a potential terrorist is so stupid to photograph so openly like any other genuine bus fan like myself to attract such a strong attention from the public, transport staff and detectives????
in fact, SBST and SMRT ought to be proud enough to know that there are people admiring their buses!!! -
You should see police stopping aviation photographers from taking shots in US. That is what I call real paranoid. They keep bombasting you with all kind of questions, detain you for a while before eventually letting you go provided you do not have any illegal stuffs with you , Example : Air band scanner.
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No better in Singapore. Some parts of Upper Changi have been declared out of bounds to the public.Originally posted by Airbus330Captain:You should see police stopping aviation photographers from taking shots in US. That is what I call real paranoid. They keep bombasting you with all kind of questions, detain you for a while before eventually letting you go provided you do not have any illegal stuffs with you , Example : Air band scanner. -
Good question, I do not know why I like them.Originally posted by shoutcast:people fantasize about buses ? -
Nah, it makes sense. Just look at how JI tape the Yishun station, so scary.Originally posted by SBS9810X:They are just bullshiting.I still remember one time in serangoon when i wanted to catch the Volvo B10BLE CNG the Green Shirt Guy(GSG) encouraged me to go catch the bus and take the photo of the bus.I use a SLR at int and no BC's even came to me about taking photographs.
I have not been scolded, but I have been given wierd looks if I squint at the license plates, BCs and public alike, guess I better give up on regos that cannot be seen clearly. -
I have always thought the situation in Australia could be worse. Yet 9818 managed to get pix of the Leyland Tiger driver's cabin in Sydney.
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It was in the depot, and I had prior permission.Originally posted by iveco:I have always thought the situation in Australia could be worse. Yet 9818 managed to get pix of the Leyland Tiger driver's cabin in Sydney. -
The main issue here is the ambiguity of instructions issued by their head offices. For instance, the old auntie at Woodlands Int is notorious for stopping photographers and threatening to confiscate the camera, while the staff at Yishun seem the least perturbed. However, it seems that SMRT has recently changed their policy regarding photography at their interchanges. Moreover, the interchange is an open place, I don't see how taking photos at interchanges accounts for trespassing.Originally posted by TIB1186Z:Then can I ask you to mind your own monkey business?
Taking photo of buses is a hobby to a number of us here,and maybe if you get out of your tree and stop eating bananas for a moment, you will discover that there are a significant number of people enjoying the same hobby the world over, notably in England, Hong Kong and Australia.
This issue is conjugated as there is no clear conscience from the green martians whether it is legally right or wrong, but to date there had been no instance where they are able to find a phrase in the law to say that it is illegal. The main purpose of bus photography is bus. The main purpose of terrorist linked bus photography is the area. So the area of focus and objective of the picture is vastly different. Which is why law enforcement officers seldom create trouble with us. Which other nut would want occupy more than 50% of the frame with a boring public bus and nothing else?
It works on a basis of trust between us as the bus photographers and the SBST staff. Firstly, the photos obtained are for our own personal collection and not used in any commercial area. Secondly, we try to be as discreet as possible while we go around enjoying clicking and the staff mind their own business. Thus, there would not be any major conflict.
However, I do know that some bus captains are somewhat terrorised by the sight of the cam as there are those public who sit around and do nothing type and snap the pix to send to HQ to launch a complain. On our part, we exclude photographic evidence whenever we complain ourselves, in fact if one phrases the complain in a tactful and clear manner, there is no need for a pix.
So this is why there are people who enjoy taking photographs of public buses and the difference between a terrorist and an enthusiast holding a cam aimed at buses. Personally, I am proud to be part of this community and celebrating my first anniversary in quality digital bus photos this week.
Some green martians have this paranoid fear, some are actually quite nice and understanding. The people at Tampines don't really seem to care, after all they're used to bus fans barging into their office to get service guides all the time, and when one talks to them, they are very friendly and professional.